8 Chevy Camaro Facts You May Not Know

The Chevy Camaro was first introduced in 1966, and has since become an iconic member of the Chevrolet lineup and an irreplaceable part of American automotive history… with a legion of fans that few other cars can boast. You may think you know everything there is to know about your favorite car, but we’ve compiled a list of strange and interesting facts about the Camaro that may surprise you.

2015 Chevy Camaro. Photo Copyright General Motors.

1. While in the design phase, the Camaro was given the internal code name “Panther,” and nearly went to market with the name. Chevy ultimately decided to continue its trend of model names beginning with “C” (like Chevelle, Corvette, and Corvair), and “Camaro” was the result.
2. Definitions of the word "Camaro" vary. Its designers claimed “Camaro” came from a French word for “friend or comrade,” but Chevrolet executives also chided Ford by claiming a Camaro was “a small, vicious animal that eats Mustangs."
3. Chevrolet designers initially planned four body styles for the Camaro before settling on the coupe and convertible for production. Also in the works were a fastback and a station wagon! Can you imagine a Camaro wagon?
4. Early Camaros sold in the U.S. were built at one of two plants: Van Nuys, California or Norwood, Ohio. The first 1967 Camaro built at Norwood had a VIN ending in N100001, while the first built at Van Nuys had a VIN ending in L100001.
5. The Camaro is often classified as a “pony car,” a term coined in the late 1960s by Car Life magazine editor Dennis Shattuck. Together with the Ford Mustang and the Dodge Challenger, the Camaro is one of three pony cars to survive in some capacity today. Other now-defunct pony car competitors included the Plymouth Barracuda, the Chevy Corvair, the Pontiac Firebird, the Mercury Cougar, and the AMC Javelin.
6. Speaking of the Mustang, the Chevy Camaro leads its main rival in appearances as the official pace car at the annual Indianapolis 500. The official pace car has traditionally come from an American automaker, and General Motors has led the way with 47 pace cars fielded. The Camaro has been the official pace car eight times, trailing only the Corvette’s tally of 12, and well ahead of the Mustang’s three appearances.
7. The hit 2007 film Transformers played a role in the rebirth of the Camaro, after it was discontinued in 2002. The robot character “Bumblebee” appears as a run-down 1977 Camaro early in the movie, and later transforms into a variant of the 2006 Camaro concept that would not enter production until 2009. This seemed an odd departure from the series of 1980’s Hasbro toys that inspired the movie, because the Bumblebee toy transformed into a Volkswagen Beetle. However, Bumblebee and the Camaro do share a connection, as a “bumblebee nose stripe” appeared on some early models.
8. Technological advancements have been kind to the Camaro, if you like going fast. Today’s standard V-6 engine generates a substantial 323 hp, which is actually more than the most powerful V-8 offered for the 1967 original (295 hp) could muster.

Are you a Camaro fan in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area? We have an amazing selection of your favorite vehicles at Dimmitt Chevrolet! Stop by today to find the new or quality pre-owned Camaro you’ve been searching for. We are conveniently located at 25485 US Highway 19 North, Clearwater, FL 33763. You can also contact us by phone to schedule a test drive at 727-797-9595.

Sources:
http://gtoravec.tripod.com/id6.html
http://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/Articles/2013/07/12/Camaro-Secrets http://www.firstgencamaro.com/1967camarofacts.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pony_car http://www.zeroto60times.com/blog/2013/04/classic-american-pony-cars/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indianapolis_500_pace_cars
http://cars.uk.msn.com/news/articles.aspx?cp-documentid=147864031